MAPUSA
Leader of Opposition Michael Lobo said the foul smell emanating from the Saligao waste treatment plant was “negligible” and castigated the Calangute Constituency Forum (CCF) for blowing the issue out of proportion.
Lobo, on Tuesday, also said that the issue was being raised keeping in mind the approaching panchayat elections.
“The important part is that all garbage from the coastal belt now comes at one point. When waste falls on the tipping floor of the waste plant some smell comes. It’s negligible,” Lobo said.
The leader of the opposition was reacting to the recent issue of foul smell from the waste plant raised by the CCF with the garbage plant authorities.
Continuing, Lobo said that since panchayat elections were approaching, many such people would come up with imaginary issues to extract political mileage.
“Since the panchayat election is approaching, they want to show that they are doing something. If they are really doing good work, I will salute them. This is cheap politics. We will support them if they do good work,” he said.
He said the garbage treatment plant constructed at Saligao was one of the best facilities in the State.
“If any improvement has to be done then, I will talk to the new minister. He is a dynamic minister. It’s a good plant. It should not fail,” he said.
Lobo said that the panchayat elections were never and should not be fought on political lines and good people should be given an opportunity to contest the polls.
“I ran the affairs in Calangute along with the panchayat for the last five years. I never said it was a BJP panchayat. One must not say that. Because there are all people involved. Whether the voters are Congress, BJP, AAP, RG or TMC,” he said.
“We cannot say this particular group belongs to this particular party. That is wrong,” he added.
